Seoul:President Lee Jae Myung has officially appointed the first chief of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA), which is responsible for handling major investigations under the interior ministry.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the appointment of Kim Ji-yong was confirmed 38 days after Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung suggested him for the role on September 7. This followed the adoption of a confirmation hearing report by a parliamentary committee.

The National Assembly's public administration and security committee adopted the report a day after conducting Kim's confirmation hearing. The report contained mixed opinions on Kim’s suitability, with some lawmakers, including those from the ruling Democratic Party, opposing the nomination. They expressed concerns that his appointment might hinder prosecution reform due to his previous role as a prosecutor under the former Yoon Suk Yeol administration.

The Lee administration had ordered further vetting, which concluded with the presidential office declaring the allegations against Kim as unfounded. The SCIA, launched on October 2, is part of a significant reform of the criminal justice system aimed at removing the power of prosecutors to conduct direct investigations, addressing criticisms of politically motivated probes.

Kim has committed to end the "politicization" of investigations, ensuring that the SCIA maintains political neutrality and independence in its operations.